Thursday, June 04, 2009

Derek Fisher and Tommy Lasorda before Fisher threw out the first pitch at a 2007 Dodgers game.

Clayton Kershaw (3-3, 4.34) vs. Cole Hamels (3-2, 5.21).

Playing the Phillies is always a daunting proposition — unless you listen to Tracy Ringolsby:

Tinseltown has not been kind to the Phillies. They have won back-to-back NL East titles but are 1-6 at Dodger Stadium during that time, and were swept in four games a year ago. They are 13-23 at Dodger Stadium in the last decade, losing eight of 11 series.

Well that's just great. We'll just sit back and relax and let the Phillies lose.

Seriously, this four-game series is the Dodgers' first foray back into the NL East since going 9-2 against the division in May. Kershaw's trending up; Hamels, down. Let's hope it translates into more dominance.

Laker fan? First read this excellent human-interest story about the Nuggets and briefly feel bad that they didn't make the Finals. Then recover and get ready to do some serious channel flipping/picture-in-picture watching. This thread will host both Dodgers and Lakers game comments, so don't get confused when Casey Blake takes it strong to the hoop!

Tonight's occupant of the press box "Blog Spot" at Dodger Stadium is Robert from Trolley Dodger. Have a blast, TD!

I'd probably go Brox at the 5 and have Loney go at the 4. Kemp, with that speed, definitely a 3.Pierre and O-Dog at the 1-2 interchanging like Kobe and Farmar.

BTW, I like the whole Bruin connection in the finals. Ariza, Farmar, and, by relation, Walton. I'd include Adam Morrison (because the Bruins made him cry in the sweet 16), but he appears to be off the roster.

Also, Kemp in the eight hole is a travesty. Do you know why Blake hit in the eight hole? Because he was our weakest hitter. Do you know why he no longer hits in the eight hole? Because he is no longer the weakest hitter in our line up. Now ask the same questions about Kemp. Does that logic fly? I don't think so, and it robs one of our best hitters of plate appearances.

coming home after a stretch of poor hitting on the road usually results in poor hitting at home too. I don't have any stats to prove this, but i have seen this a few times and it's frustrating as hell. we're gonna have to battle these next few games until we can get back out on the road

Hamels was throwing strikes and just dealing. I don't think we should make a big deal out of this. It's not like we got shut out by... and I can't think of a crappy starter. But it's not like we got owned by some crappy starter.